In May of 2024, the original Winged Jellyfish specimen, along with a short story written by La Voliera, were carefully packed and returned to the Harn Museum of Art in Gainesville, Florida. Read the short story we wrote here.

illustration by La Voliera — (person one)First time, ISaw you, FellFor you, justMe, or youToo of-tenI wait forOne moreSign I I-ma-gine, a twinkle in yourEye, once IBuild, the courage to sayHi, but forNow, another wave good-Bye, and aPro-mise, that one… Day I’ll cast thatFear aside, getOver it, rip theBandage off, findNothing there toShow for it, take theHand ofSome-one, that IHope isThe one, but I’mGet-ting aFeel-ing, thatSome-one isYou — (person two)First time, ISaw you, youSaw me, IWant-ed youTo come onOv-er andStay aWhile I I-ma-gine, a twinkle in yourEye, once youBuild, some courage to comeBy, but forNow, another wink forYou, and aPro-mise,...

Image: painting by La Voliera, acrylic on gift box, 2 x 3 in I like your painting very much. It seems familiar to me. What do you call it? I call it, Bird. Just Bird? I suppose I could call it, Bird Flying. Where is the bird flying to? How about, Bird Flying Home? I like that, but it is very dark. I should add, Bird Flying Home at Night. Then why all the white around it? It is, I confess, Bird Flying Home at Night Beneath the Clouds. Look, the border! It’s now black. The clouds have parted so...

illustration by La Voliera I have long loved whales. I once wanted to be a marine biologist to study whales. My father always had a sailboat, so I was quite used to weekends of dolphin pods surfing our wake, and humpbacks breaching off our windward side. I swear I’d recognize individual whales as I watched them migrate each season, and I would imagine they recognized me, too, and watched me growing up. Scientists identify whales by the unique patterns on the undersides of their tails. These patterns always reminded me of Rorschach’s ink blots, and I still believe I feel...

illustration by La Voliera Take a step forwardI promise you’ll findA new day just waitingAll others behind This is easy, but scaryI warn you, but pleaseTake my wing, let me show youHow to fly through the trees — So chin up, and get upAnd brush up, let’s goThe show must go onSo get on with your show — You’re a rock star, babyThat much I knewIt’s what you do with it, do with itThis is your cue You’re a rock star, babyI want this for youSo be a rock star, babyAnd do it for you — The first time I...